Electrical hair-brush.



Patented July 25, I899.

A. .1. coax. ELECTRICAL HAIR BRUSH. v

(Application filed Apr 11, 1899.}

2 Sheets-Sheet l.

No Iodal.)

Wi in eases.

Mada/U;

By A is 172 fiorney,

mus Pains co. vuawm'mu wasuqamn. n. nv

No. 629,340. Patented July 25, 1399; ,A: J. COOK.

ELECTRICAL HAIR BRUSH.

(Application filed. Apr. 11, 1899.)

2 Sheats-$heet 2.

(No Model.)

Witnesses.

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' To all whdm it may concern.-

I tric hair-brush designed specially for the novel arrangement of wiring whereby both used singly or in unison, as the requirements as are commonlyemployed in a medical batcitizen of the United States, residing at J er-, sey City, in the county of Hudson and State.

'ful Electric Brush, of which the following is part of the bo'dy;1an d it has for its object'to struct the brush with all of the parts com- UNITED STATES? PATENT? FFICE f ALB RT V EIGHTHS TO THOMAS MCEWAN, JR, or SAME PLACE.

ELECTRICAL HAIR-BRUSH.

srncrr'ronrron forming part er Letters Patent No. 629,340, cases Jciyas, 1899;

7 Application filed April 11, 1899. Serial No. 712,633. (No model.)

. Be itknown that LALBERT JAMES COO-K, a

of New Jersey, have invented a new and usea specification.

This invention relates to an improvedelectransmission of electric currents to the scalp and roots of the hair in the treatment of this provide a simple, compact,and eflicien't device of this character that is always ready for use and is thrown into action automatically by the act of grasping'the handle for the pur-v pose of using the brush.

' A further object of the invention is to conpactly arranged upon the brush-body, so that the brush will be complete in itself and ready for use at all times without having the usual objectionable dangling wire connections with an extraneous source. of electrical energy, While at the same'time being so constructed as to constitute not only an electrical hair-brush, but also a complete galvanic medical battery that can be used in the same way asany ordi- 1 nary medical battery by utilizing the ordinary electrode connections which are commonly used with such batteries.

In carrying out the invention both as ahairbrush and as a medical battery for use with different electrodes, such as sponge electrodes and the like, a further object is to providea the primary and secondary currents may be of the case may demand. 7

Another object of the invention is to provide improved means for automatically closing the primary circuit by the simple act of grasping the brush-handle without causing the. current to pass through the operators hand or arm, but compelling the currents to pass through the portions of the body with which the electrodes contact, both where the metal brush bristles ior pins constitute the electrodes and where, theielectrodes are such tery. I

lVith these and other-objects in view,"which vention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction, combination,

JAMES COOK, OFJEBSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR Oh THREE will readily appear as the nature of the inand arrangement otf'parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated, and claimed. lathe drawings, Figure l is a perspective view'of an electrical hair-brush embodying the improvements contemplated by the pres ent invention and showing a pair of sponge electrodes connected therewith, whereby the same may be used as .an. ordinary medical battery. Fig. 2 is averticallongitudinal sectional view of the brush. Fig. 3 is a bottom plan viewthereof, showing.tl1e relative arrangement of the three groups of metallic bristles or pins and their'respective cont-act plates. Fig. 4 is a'diagrammatic plan View of the brush, showing all of the circuit-wire connections therefor.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, the numeral 1 designates the brush-back, ot' the usual configuration and preferably made of suitable non-00nd ucting material, so as not to interfere with the electrical action of the brush, and said back has extended from one end thereof thebrush -handle 2. The brushback 1 has fitted to the under sidev thereof a series of three metallic contact-plates 3, 4, and ,5, respectively, which plates are preferably arranged in parallel relation longitudinally of the brush-back and are suitably insulated from each other, so as to have no metallic connection whatever. While the three contact-plates 3, 4:, and 5 are preferably ar ranged in the manner described, still it will be understood that any other suitable arrangement thereof may beobserved, provid-' ing that they always maintain the relation of being insulated from each other, so as to have independent contact with the metallic bristles or pins 6 associated therewith. I

' The metallic brush bristles or pins 6, which project from the brush-backat the under side thereof, are divided into three groups, where-' by there will be a separate group of the brispins, at the inner ends thereof, will be in direct metallic contact with the plates, it of course being understood that each group of post connections'll and 12, respectively, for

the positive and negative elements of the battery, and the induction-coil 9 is of the usual construction, and essentially consists of the primary winding 13, the secondary winding 14, encircling the primary winding, and a circuit breaker or vibrator 15, arranged at one end of the complete coil. The said coil is also preferably provided with the slidable regulator-sleeve 16, working within the core of the coil and providing means for varying the strength of the current to suit the require: ments of the case. The circuit breaker or vibrator of the induction-coil is of the usual type, and the vibrating armature 17 thereof plays between the anvil-plate 18 and the contact-screw 19, with which it is held normally in contact under the influencoof the spring.

In carrying out the present invention the circuit is automatically closed through the primarywindingof the induction-coil through the medium of a circuit-closing device applied to the handle 2 of the brush. This circuitclosing device essentially consists of a spring pressure-plate 20 and a pair of contact-buttons 21,spaced apart and adapted to be bridged by said plate when pressed thereon. The spaced contact-buttons 21 are fitted in the handle 2 of the brush, with their upper ends projected above the upper surface of the handle and exposed beneath the free end 22 of the spring pressure-plate 20, which end of the said plate is normally sprung out of contact with the button. The spring pressureplate 20 is arranged longitudinally of the brush-handle, at the upper side thereof, and is secured fast thereto at its outer end by means of the screws or other equivalent fasteners 23. By reason of this arrangement of the pressure-plate it Will be obvious that when the operator grasps the handle of the brush the plate is necessarily forced into contact with the buttons 21, so as to close the primary circuit; also, when the hand is released from the brush-handle the pressureplate springs out of contact with the buttons 21 and thereby automatically opens the primary circuit.

The circuit-closing device is included directly in the primary circuit between the bat- .tery and the primary winding of the induction-coil, the battery-wire at having separate portions thereof respectively connected to the separate contact-buttons 21. One terminal of the battery-wire a is connected with the binding-post 12 for the negative element'of the battery, while its other terminal is connected with the contact-screw 19 of the circuit-breaker. The anvil-plate 18, forming a part of said circuit-breaker, has one terminal of the primary winding 13 connected thereto, and also one terminal of the primary branch wire I), which wire has a connection with the bristle contact-plate 5 and also with a plugsocket 24, fitted in the brush-back for use in connection with separate extraneous electrodesi n the manner to he present-lyexplained, and the said plug-socket 24 is arranged for use together With two other similar sockets 25 and 26, respectively, also fitted in the brushback.

The terminal of the primary winding 13 opposite the connection with the anvil-plate 18 has connected therewith one terminal of the other battery-wire c, which wire connects with the binding-post 11 for. the positive element of the battery and also has a metallic connection'with the plug-socket 25. The bindingpost 11 for the positive element of the battery also has connected thereto oneterminal of a primary. branch wire 01, the other terminal of which has a connection with the bristle contact-plate 4.

One terminal of the secondary winding 1& of the induction-coil has connected thereto a terminal of the secondary-circuit wire e, which wire has a connection with the bristle contact-plate 3 and also with the plug-socket 26.

.The other terminal of the secondary winding 14 has connected therewith a terminal of the seconda1,-y-circuit wire f, which wire is not only preferably connected with the bindingpost connection for the positive element of the battery but also has metallic connection with the bristle contact-plate 4 and the plug-socket 25, thus completing the wiring of the electrical apparatus.

It will be observed that when the brush is applied to the scalp, so that the latter will close the circuit between the bristle contactplates 4 and 5, the primary-branch-wire connections b and cl, together with said plates,constitute a parallel or multiple arc connection, so that the primary current not only passes through this connection but also through the primary winding 13 of the induction-coil. It will thus be seen that when the device is used as a brush and the circuit-closer is thrown into operation by the hand of the operatorin the manner explained a portion of the current completes a circuit over the wire a, the circuit-breaker of the induction-coil, the primary winding 13, wire 0, including the connection with socket 25, and the positive element of the battery, and also a circuit over the wire a, the circuit-breaker of the induc- II I355 of the battery A'tfthe same timeiaseparate and independent circuit for the secondary.

\ I 5 current ise stalelished I-i.'-ron1 one. terminal-of fthe secondary winding'14 overthe wire e, the 4 bristle I contact-plate 3; thefs'calp; the cont'actplate 4,;.the' wire fi and V thence} to the other f ter minalofthe secondary:winding In zthis. I 110 y notonly the g'alvanic" pri nary current' "andthe secondary cnrrent'are'caused tosep-j 1 aratelyexcrttheir therapeutical'inflnenceonf the scalp, xbutby-reasonofthewiringthe 65-4 :fect' ofthese'curren'ts iscornbinedfat the ce'n'- tral'-plate 4; 'thnslpro vid-in g1 in Ithe: burgh-what 'may beproperly referredto'as 't hreedistinct, currents-ef namely; a ,fprirnary current", as'ecf I ondaryvcurrent and-apriinary and-secondary -cu ren qom ed. I fInusingthe-devicesolely as ,bined efiect of the twoicurrents-.-'nain ely,;the

primary and secondary- 1h ay' :be secured by fitting the plugs- 27 in the sockets 24 and 26,

as will be readilyjde'ternxined by tracingo'ut the circuit on diagrammatic :view, Fig. 4, of

the drawings.

5 i From the foregoing it is thought that the, I construction, operation; and many advamtages of the herein-described electric brush ,will "bereadilyapparentto those skilled in the" art withont'further description, and it;

v willbe understood thatchangesin the form, proportion, size, and the minor details of con: struction within the scope of the appended from the spirit'or sacrificing any of the advantages .ofthis invention, v I Having thus described the invention; what is claimed as new, anddesired to be secured windings of the induction-coil and the sepa 'rate groups of bristles, .substantiallyas set forth.

In an electrical appliance of" the class .edi al r-r. itery any type of extraneous electrodegmaybe employed, suchas yc hei'sponge electrodesf 27 "shown in-Fig'. lofthe drawings; These elec- "trodes I have connected therewith the usual} -'conducting-cords v 128 car'rying 1 the? terminal claims may be resorted to 'wit-hout'departing V the brush-body having a plurality of groups of metallicbristles insulatedfrom- 7 a each other, abattery; an inductiomcoil hav-j ing its primarywinding in circuit with the s v 3.; In anelectrical appliance-of the class 7 jbatterylandineansfor establishing a primary and secondary circuit simnltaneouslythi'ough I I the separatefgroups;,ofbr'ushebristles]sub-f 'stantially assetforth.

: 'i a yi ich re tan a c d se o d y c'urrentitopass simultaneously-ti] rough the vt lly assetffo'rth.

nfan, 'electrioalappliance of the'f'class asse II bed, -.the brush-bodyhavin g 'a s'eries, of

e inetall'icv contact-plates insulated from each lothcrg and a separate grcupofmetallic ibristlescontacting with each of said plates, 5 andsm ansf fiausi th l aniep a currentjand an "ind need I secondary: current 99;iiassy imul neously hrou t e seve a r connect-plates; and. the brush-bristles -"associ 1 *ated"therewith,[substantiallyasset forth a, 'a fi fln an';electrical "appliancejof thezclassj: -described,'the" brush'rbody havinga series of 'three nietallic' contact-plates :ii'nsu'lated from 'eeh ther; a lida epa at group o me al bristles for each of said plates, ahattmy, an

I fseparate fg'roups'yofi, brush-bristles;substan-.

inductionecoil having itsprimary vinding in"1 circuit juiit hthe battery, a 'priinarycil'cuit in parallelgori multiple arc w ith a, pair of said I contact-plates, and a secondarycircuit having a wire connection independentlywvith onejo'ffsaid plates and alsowith a plate have Y ing' a primary 'circuit-VWire connection therer' j 1 with, substantially asset forth,

threej contact-j plates insulated "from each I 51: 6, In an: electrical aapplianceof thecla'ssi. described; the, brush-body having a series of duction -coil, a primary circuit having wire coil; and with a pair of said contact-plates, a

secondarycircuit having an independent wire connection with one, of said 'plates, and also a connection with a platehaving aprimary icircuit wire connection therewith, and a series ofthreefplug-sockets interposedin t heI line i of the primary and I secondary circuitwire connections for the contact-plates, and

adapted to'receive the plu gsof. supplemental" or extraneous electrodes, substantially as set V forth. 1

e 'ln testimony thatl clainlthe foregoing as my ownl have hereto afiixedmysignature in the presence ofytwo witnesses ,r Y

' Witnesses: o

ALBER J M s cooK. a

"descrihed',[a brush-body havin'gr'a plurality- .otgro ps of metallic bristles insulated from 

